WEST ORANGE, N.J. (May 19) — An enthusiastic crowd of Filipino-Americans from the Northeastern part of the U.S. welcomed Vice President Leni Robredo in a luncheon event organized by CFC ANCOP USA Northeast Region held at Highlawn Pavilion in this New Jersey suburban township about 18 miles from New York City.

The attendees, who came mostly from a cross-section of the Filipino-American community, gave Vice President Robredo a rousing and respectful welcome worthy of the second highest official of their native country.

In her address, the Vice President thanked ANCOP USA Northeast for organizing and inviting her to the event aimed at raising funds for the health center of Calabanga, Camarines Sur, impoverished municipality in the VP’s home province.

She also thanked those who attended.

“I am glad I met all of you and I’m grateful to all,” she said.

She introduced her audience to “Angat-Buhay” (Partnership against poverty), a poverty-alleviation program started and administered by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“Angat-Buhay has no budget from the government. We depend on private donations from companies and NGO’s like ANCOP. Earlier this year, ANCOP gave us medicines and multi-vitamins which we distributed to the needy citizens of Parañaque City,” she cited.

VP Leni, as she is frequently referred to, reported that Angat-Buhay, from inception in October 2016 to-date, has served some 132,000 poor families in 176 places around the Philippines.

She also said the program was able to deliver P214 million worth of services to poor Filipinos from private donations in the following areas during the same period: feed and nutrition, food packs and multi-vitamins, livelihood opportunities, education, solar kits generators, water filters and water pumps, sinks and toilet bowls.

At the end of her talk, she reiterated her appreciation to CFC ANCOP for its commitment in helping the poor.

“We could not thank you enough for what you have been doing for the poor,” she said.

She mentioned that from 1992-2012, she and her husband, the late Jesse Robredo, were active CFC leaders in their home province of Camarines Sur.

She invited her audience to visit the native country.

VP Robredo is on a non-official trip to the U.S. to be with her eldest daughter on the latter’s graduation from Harvard University where she studied master’s degree on a scholarship.

The VP will fly back to Manila on May 24.

(Note to members of the Filipino-American Press Club of New York: As promised earlier, we give you permission to use parts or this entire story as the Filipino Reporter was the only accredited media group that covered the event. Photos will be posted publicly as an album in social media. Feel free also to use them.)